Idaho sugar company failed to prevent industrial stormwater discharges, violated federal clean water rules

EPA Press Release:

Idaho sugar company failed to prevent industrial stormwater discharges, violated federal clean water rules

Suzanne Skadowski, EPA Region 10 Public Affairs, 206-295-4829, skadowski.suzanne@epa.gov

(Seattle – August 19, 2013)   The Amalgamated Sugar Company, of Paul, Idaho, violated the Clean Water Act when it discharged stormwater without authorization under a federal industrial stormwater permit – the Multi Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity – according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 “To help protect Idaho’s water quality, industries that discharge stormwater must follow the pollution controls required by the industrial stormwater permit,” said Ed Kowalski, director of EPA’s enforcement program in Seattle. “Companies who fail to comply with the industrial stormwater permit can put Idaho’s environment at risk and face federal penalties.”

The Amalgamated Sugar Company is an industrial facility and is required to apply for and comply with EPA’s Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity. If the company had complied with the industrial stormwater permit, they would have been required to develop a stormwater pollution prevention plan and to conduct regular self-inspections of their stormwater controls.

In 2012, the company discharged 4,000 gallons of stormwater from its storage lagoon to a drainage and irrigation ditch that drains to the Snake River, without authorization under the industrial stormwater permit.  To settle the violations, the company agreed to pay a $7,500 fine and comply with the permit’s stormwater controls and environmental protections.

The Multi Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity is available to new applicants only until September 30, 2013.  Because this permit is expiring, it is important for industrial stormwater dischargers that need permit coverage to seek it immediately.

EPA’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/msgp.cfm